‘Learn from Latin American experience of democracy’ 2009-05-05
MAYA MANSOUR DOHA
An Arab-Latin American Civil Society meeting organised by the Arab Democracy Foundation (ADF) was held here on
Tuesday on the sidelines of the 9th Doha Forum for Democracy, Development and Free Trade. The meeting was
addressed by ADF Secretary- General Mohesen Marzouq, former Peruvian president Alejandro Toledo, former
Moroccan minister of human rights Mohamed Ojar and Lebanese law professor Hoda Chalak. Welcoming the guests,
Mohesen Marzouq said, “We can really benefit from the Latin American experience, where people had fought for a
long time to earn their democratic rights.” He said that leaders of Latin America have always supported Arabs
in their need of hour. “They have taken firm positions in support of Arab causes, including the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict,” he added. Marzouq said that the current democratic concepts in the Arab region must be
reviewed. “Democracy is not just getting a right to vote freely in elections. It entails ensuring basic rights
to each citizen and free them of humiliation, fear and exile,” he added. Former Peru president Alejandro Toledo
shared the opinion of Mohsen Marzouq. He said that democracy that does not get people rid of poverty and
inequality is not a complete democracy. “If we cannot provide clean water, decent education and medical aid to
people, we are missing our goals. Political democracy must be associated with social and economic democracy,”
he added. He said that freedom of press, respect of human rights, rule of law, and accountability of
governments towards their people are the main components of democracy. Toledo said that an annual Arab-Latin
American meeting for civil societies must be held for exchanging opinions and experience. Former Moroccan
minister Mohamed Orja said that Arabs and Latin Americans share a long history. “Morocco has the largest number
of Spanish speaking people outside Latin America, estimated at 10 million. Both societies have suffered from
colonialism and had to struggle hard to gain freedom,” Orja added. He said that Moroccans have benefited a lot
from the Latin American models of democracy. Hoda Chalak urged Arabs to pay more attention to the brain drain
taking place in the region. She also pointed out to the increase of ignorance and violence among Arab
societies.
MAYA MANSOUR DOHA
An Arab-Latin American Civil Society meeting organised by the Arab Democracy Foundation (ADF) was held here on
Tuesday on the sidelines of the 9th Doha Forum for Democracy, Development and Free Trade. The meeting was
addressed by ADF Secretary- General Mohesen Marzouq, former Peruvian president Alejandro Toledo, former
Moroccan minister of human rights Mohamed Ojar and Lebanese law professor Hoda Chalak. Welcoming the guests,
Mohesen Marzouq said, “We can really benefit from the Latin American experience, where people had fought for a
long time to earn their democratic rights.” He said that leaders of Latin America have always supported Arabs
in their need of hour. “They have taken firm positions in support of Arab causes, including the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict,” he added. Marzouq said that the current democratic concepts in the Arab region must be
reviewed. “Democracy is not just getting a right to vote freely in elections. It entails ensuring basic rights
to each citizen and free them of humiliation, fear and exile,” he added. Former Peru president Alejandro Toledo
shared the opinion of Mohsen Marzouq. He said that democracy that does not get people rid of poverty and
inequality is not a complete democracy. “If we cannot provide clean water, decent education and medical aid to
people, we are missing our goals. Political democracy must be associated with social and economic democracy,”
he added. He said that freedom of press, respect of human rights, rule of law, and accountability of
governments towards their people are the main components of democracy. Toledo said that an annual Arab-Latin
American meeting for civil societies must be held for exchanging opinions and experience. Former Moroccan
minister Mohamed Orja said that Arabs and Latin Americans share a long history. “Morocco has the largest number
of Spanish speaking people outside Latin America, estimated at 10 million. Both societies have suffered from
colonialism and had to struggle hard to gain freedom,” Orja added. He said that Moroccans have benefited a lot
from the Latin American models of democracy. Hoda Chalak urged Arabs to pay more attention to the brain drain
taking place in the region. She also pointed out to the increase of ignorance and violence among Arab
societies. 
